Most people think building a brand is as simple as getting a logo, picking cool colors, and racking up followers with viral content.

But that's not how you create something that lasts.

I've seen creators fall into the trap of posting viral content just to rack up followers (eventually realizing they can't sell to them). They built a following, but not lasting connections.

For example, on Instagram, there was a trend where these fitness influencers would post reels of themselves at the gym with some motivational quote playing over it.

I actually followed a few of them.

The thing is—they all looked exactly the same.

Nothing differentiated one guy from the next.

I knew nothing about their worldviews or life story.

There was no real reason for me to buy one training plan over the other—except to focus on cheaper price.

Years later, I can't remember any of their names.

The same fitness influencer copy-pasted.

This happens on other social platforms as well.

Content that is easily copy-pastable. Meaning if you swapped the content out with someone else's profile pic you wouldn't know the difference.

Building a Magnetic Brand = Building an Immersive World

Building a magnetic brand isn't about collecting followers, but crafting an immersive world that transforms your audience. I call this creating a digital experience.

"Don't choose a niche. Create a niche. Create a little pocket of the internet that people can become obsessed with, explore, and binge. Your job is to create a small scale Marvel or Star Wars. Create a library of content and products (a world) people can dive into." —Dan Koe

Think about the brands that stick with you:

• Nike doesn't sell shoes; they sell the transformation into an athlete.
• Apple doesn't sell devices; they sell innovation and creative empowerment.
• Dan Koe doesn't sell writing products; he sells you lifestyle freedom: "Work Less. Earn More. Enjoy Life."

You get where I'm going with this?

These brands aren't selling products—they're selling transformations. Everything they offer is simply a pathway to achieve that transformation.

The Digital Experience Formula

Here is my approach for creating a magnetic brand: (Strong Brand Identity x Visual Aesthetics) + Visually Engaging Website = Digital Experience

The heart of this formula is brand architecture—the blueprint of your digital presence.

At the base: your brand’s purpose, values, and personality, which define your brand identity. Then, it’s built upon with a visual identity that brings these elements to life. Finally, the web experience immerses visitors in your brand’s world.

Let's break it down.

1. Purpose: Your Transformational Vision

Why does your brand even exist?

What are you leading people towards?

What problems do you solve for the world?

This is your big transformation.

Compare these two approaches (from Simon Sinek's book Start With Why):

Generic Computer Company: "We make great computers. Want to buy one?"

Apple: "We believe in challenging the status quo and empowering people to think differently. Oh, and we happen to make great computers. Want to buy one?"

Can you tell the difference?

One sells a product. The other sells a vision of transformation.

There's a reason why Apple has super fans.

2. Values: Your Brand's Compass

Your values don't need to be explicitly stated, they come through based on how you operate. They're the principles that define your playstyle and attract your tribe.

To define your values envision your future self. Based on what they've done, built, and accomplished, what do they value?

Align your actions accordingly.

(My brand's core values):

Think about your favorite creators. You're drawn to them because they share at least one fundamental value with you.

3. Personality: Your Unique Perspective

Your brand personality emerges from:

• Your distinct voice
• What you stand for (and against)
• Your story and worldviews
• Concepts and ideas that shape the perception of your brand

Let's dive into the concepts and ideas.

When you hear the phrase, "you are the niche," you may think of Dan Koe. But it's not necessarily an idea exclusive to him—Gary Vee says this too.

What makes it unique is how he frames it through his unique experience, knowledge, and beliefs. It intersects with his other core concepts forming the perception of his brand. (One-person business & 4-hour workdays are concepts associated with him as well.)

In magnetic brand-building, you want to be associated with a set of impactful ideas.

Think of it like this:

Do you remember the connect-the-dots puzzles we played as kids?

You draw a line between each dot to form a picture.

Well, that's what you're doing with your brand.

Each dot (idea) forms the bigger picture of your brand.

And each dot (idea) is distinctly designed (like a snowflake) because it's expressed through your unique lens.

Here are a few big-picture concepts I'm developing:

• Life is a video game
• Create a digital experience
• Curate your inputs

If you've been sucked into my world you may already recognize some of these.

They are what shape the brand (world) I am building.

You must repeat these ideas until they become associated with you.

This is how you build a niche of one.

No one else will have your unique perspective and combination of ideas (+values, skills, visual aesthetics, etc.)

Very few creators do this well.

There are only a handful of creators who are stuck in my head and whom I associate with an idea(s).

Like Zach Pogrob and obsession.

Most other creators, I forget about as soon as I log off.

This is also why I recommend writing a newsletter (even if no one is reading), because you can dive deep and develop your own unique ideas that become the dots that connect your world.

In short, focus on developing impactful ideas and constantly repeat them. (Yes, this can take time, Rome wasn't built in a day.)

The best creators know how to say the same thing 1,000 different ways.

That's what makes them memorable.

This is effectively what you want when building a magnetic brand, to live in people's heads rent-free.

If they really like you and your ideas, they will tell their friends about you, effectively drawing in more potential clients and fans into your world.

People don't necessarily need to buy from you right off the bat.

You want them to spread your ideas (brand) like wildfire.**

‍(**I've actually had someone say they showed my website to their peers because they thought it was so cool.)

If they don't need your service but they meet someone who does, they may end up mentioning you because you are stuck in their head.

This is a long-term strategy and most creators don't utilize it because they don't understand brand loyalty and how it appreciates over time.

"There are tons of new newsletters, but most of them are 💩 (care more about short-term monetization vs. long-term reader loyalty)" —Alex Lieberman

4. Visual Identity: Your Brand's Soul

The visual identity is a visual reflection of the brand's personality.

It is the brand's essence (soul) distilled into visual elements such as color, typography, and imagery.

Visuals tap into emotions forming deeper connections with your audience.

They also make your brand instantly recognizable.

There are a few creators who stand out to me simply because their visual aesthetic is on point and it resonates with me.

Your visual style makes you memorable as people began to associate you with a certain style (and colors) in their minds.

5. Immersion: Bringing Your World To Life

This is where you truly create an unforgettable digital experience.

Bring your brand to life by crafting a visually engaging website. Website design is underrated because it can be used as a powerful enhancer for brand experience.

Building an immersive web experience serves as an extension of your brand and adds to the world-building.

Every pixel, scroll, and interaction is an opportunity to immerse visitors in your brand's world.

• The subtle animations that guide attention.
• The thoughtful typography that embodies your brand's personality.
• The strategic use of white space that creates focus.
• The color psychology that triggers emotional response.

All of this taps into the psychology of the halo effect—which I explain in a past newsletter, click here to read.

And if you're interested in learning and applying design principles to bring your world to life apply to Design Freedom here.

I also use my website to create a newsletter network.

The newsletters don't die after you hit send; they live on your website for anyone to read. You can plug the newsletter on your social media months after initial release. Each newsletter strategically backlinks to at least one other newsletter (allowing people to seamlessly explore your world). Each newsletter may also subtly plug a product or service.

This strategy extends your content's life. For the creators that value depth, it's a no-brainer.

Not having your letters on the web for new readers to explore your world is like someone subscribing to a youtube channel without having access to previous videos. It doesn't make sense.

If you use this strategy and strategically backlink to past newsletters then a visually engaging website adds to the brand experience.

If you're ready to co-create an immersive web experience for your brand—click here.

Tying It All Together

To build an immersive world that transforms:

• Define your purpose (your transformational vision)
• Develop your brand's big-picture concepts
• Repeat those ideas until you become associated with them
• Create an interconnected web of ideas utilizing your newsletter
• Bring your world to life with distinct visual aesthetics and a visually engaging website

I hope you found this useful.

Until next time my friend,

—Priscilla [Player 2]